What will my study involve?

Entry requirements

Admission to UC with University Entrance (or equivalent) is required to enrol.

If English is your additional language, you are also required to meet UC's English language requirements.

See Admission and enrolment for all information on enrolling at UC.

The BEnvSci(Hons) is open to anyone with entry to the University.

While no particular background is required, secondary school subjects such as biology, chemistry, geography, and sustainability are good preparation. Most important is a passion for the environment and our role as kaitiaki protectors of our natural world.

Subjects and courses

The Bachelor of Environmental Science with Honours is a highly diverse degree, including introductory courses, hands-on fieldwork and internship placements, and courses towards a major subject from the second year.

100-level

• ENVR101 Introduction to Environmental Science
• BIOL112 Ecology, Evolution and Conservation
• GEOG106 Global Environmental Change
• SCIE101 Science, Society and Me
• STAT101 Statistics 1
• CHEM111 Chemical Principles and Processes OR CHEM114 Foundations of Chemistry

CHEM114 is recommended if you have not taken Year 13 chemistry (or equivalent) at secondary school.

Plus complete the required 100-level courses from your chosen major.

200-level

• ENVR209 Environmental Science and Resource Management
• ENVR210 Practical Environmental Science and Management
• BIOL274 Principles of Ecology

Plus complete the required 200-level courses from your chosen major.

300-level

• ENVR302 Carbon and Environmental Change
• ENVR303 Mātāpuna Kai and Environmental Science
• PSYC341 Environmental Psychology

Plus complete the required 300-level courses from your chosen major.

ENVR302 and ENVR303 must both be completed with a B Grade Point Average to move onto the next year (or may instead be awarded the Bachelor of Environmental Science).

400-level

• ENVR411 Case Studies in Environmental Science
• ENVR415 Assessing and Communicating Environmental Effects and Risks
• ENVR481 Environmental Science Research Project

Plus complete the required 400-level courses from your chosen major.

You will also complete 400 hours of practical work through ENVR300 Environmental Science Work Experience (0 points, 0 fees).

You can choose to take this course during the summer months (November—February) in either year 2 or 3 of the degree.

At least another 45 points (up to 90 depending on your chosen major) need to be chosen from the below two groups.

Group 1

Choose 30 points from the following elective courses, or any language courses:

• Ancient Greek
• Chinese
• French
• German
• Japanese
• Latin
• Russian
• Spanish
• Te Reo Māori

Group 2

Choose your remaining points from the following elective courses, or courses chosen from the following subjects at 100 to 400-level.

Depending on your major, at least one or more courses will need to be at 400-level.

• Antarctic Studies courses
• Biological Science courses
• Biochemistry courses
• Chemistry courses
• Geography courses
• Geology courses
• Mathematics courses
• Psychology courses
• Statistics courses
• Water Science and Management courses

Further study

UC offers postgraduate studies in Environmental Science:

• Bachelor of Science with Honours
• Postgraduate Certificate in Science
• Master of Science
• Doctor of Philosophy (PhD)

Graduates may also study a variety of related subjects in these programmes, such as Biological Sciences, Biochemistry, Chemistry, Disaster Risk and Resilience, Geography, or Water Resource Management.

You may also consider specialist studies available:

• Master of Antarctic Studies
• Master of Disaster Risk and Resilience
• Master of Urban Resilience and Renewal
• Master of Water Science and Management

Career ready

Find out more about what can you do with a degree in Environmental Science.